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The Arena of Circumstance
Many scholars believe Job is the most ancient of biblical texts. If this is true, then the story of Job serves as a kind of preface to the rest of the text. It sets the stage, as it were, for the stories of creation; the nation of Israel and its kings and prophets; and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It is a poetic possibility because Job addresses tough questions we have all asked ourselves at some point in our lives: Why does God allow bad things to happen? Why do the innocents suffer? What benefit is there in all this trouble for humanity? Does God want our wellbeing? Is He really good?
When reading Job, it is hard not to cringe when Satan is allowed to play a part in Job’s circumstances. His permission to alter Job’s world hits too close to home. We’ve all been there. We have doubted our God and our faith when life is not going well for us. “Where are You now that I need You the most, God?”
We often forget that God never promised nothing would happen to us. Instead, He promised to be with us when we pass through the waters, to hold our hand and protect us during our adversity so that we walk through fire without getting burned (Isaiah 43:2).
Perhaps, with this preface, God wants to communicate that the real battle for humanity will take place in the arena of circumstance. Satan and his minions will be there. So will the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, who together created all things (Genesis 1:1–2, Colossians 1:16). But central to the casting in the drama is humanity, with all the weakness and inclinations of the flesh. And the drama’s tension is this question: “What choices will human beings make?”
It’s a question as relevant for us as it was for Job. The world has been created. The board has been set, and the players are in position. What choices will we make in the arena, in the world of the opportunity set before us? Will we choose to turn to God’s truth, or will we choose to give in to Satan’s lies?
Lord, please help me keep Your truths in my heart and guide me so I might make the right choices.
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About this Plan
The book of Job, one of the earliest stories in human history, is a foundational exploration of what it means to be human, how to relate to an almighty God, and how to navigate the challenging and, at times, even tragic circumstances of daily life. This seven-part series explores insights from Job and how to apply them to what we decide today.
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